Showing posts with label Springfield Falcons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Springfield Falcons. Show all posts

Monday, October 29, 2012

Hurricane Sandy doesn't stop the "Hatched and Hungry"


Let’s just say by the end of these next few days, there might be a farm no longer. Hurricane Sandy is demonstrating her thrash, wreaking havoc along the East coast. Now us here in Springfield haven’t been affected yet, with the storm looming over New York City. However, just like my dad has always told me: “The only sports that are not cancelled in bad weather are hockey and skiing.” Well the Falcons didn't do too much skiing this weekend, but they did play some Hockey!
This past weekend was one of much success for the Springfield Falcons. With two victories, the Falcons slid into the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Hurricane Sandy is coming for our farm!
Photo courtesy of telegraph.co.uk
On Friday night, the Falcons traveled to Providence to take on the Bruins and defeated the Boston Bruin farm team 3-0. Just one week prior, it was Providence on the winning side of the ice, taking the game 3-1.This time around it was all Springfield. goalie Curtis McElhinney recorded his second shutout in five games while Ryan Johansen, Cam Atkinson and Ryan Russell scored the goals.
Moving on to Saturday night, things were a little different. The Falcons hosted the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and eventually lost in a shootout 3-2. The UMass Amherst graduate and back-up goalie Paul Dainton played well, recording 36 saves in the loss.
For those of you that don’t know much about Paul Dainton, let me give you some insight, for I have been watching this guy between the pipes for a while now. Back at UMass, Dainton was a stud. Pretty much every time the guy made a save, the hundreds of “Mullins Maniacs” (UMass fanbase) wave their hands up and down praising their goalkeeper. In four years between 2007 and 2011, Dainton finished his career with a .908 save percentage, 2.79 goals against average and a career record of 45-16-12. My guess is that he will be a solid backup for McElhinney and will be an asset down the road.
In their last game of the weekend, the “Hatched and Hungry” Falcons took on the Portland Pirates in a Sunday matinee. Springfield scored three times in the first frame while outshooting the Pirates 19-4. Then, with McElhinney back in the cage, held off Portland down the stretch to close out the weekend with a 3-2 victory.
That’s it from here on the Farm, now back to you!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Big weekend down on the farm..

Nick Drazenovic scored the lone goal vs. the Providence
Bruins last Saturday. Photo courtesy of Masslive.com

The Blue Jacket affiliate Springfield Falcons have an action packed weekend in store for them. They have three games in a row lined up for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday night, the Falcons will travel to Providence, RI to take on the Bruins in a rematch of last Saturday’s 3-1 loss. Center Nick Drazenovic scored the lone goal for Springfield.
Following Friday night’s game, the Falcons will hop on the bus and travel back to Springfield to host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday and the Portland Pirates on Sunday.
Now with the NHL Lockout STILL looming over our heads, we continue to look at our prospects keeping their blades sharp down on the farm. What might be interesting to you is that in the Providence Bruins game, the Cam Atkinson, Ryan Johansen and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault was nonexistent. Instead, the second line of Matt Calvert, Thomas Kubalik and Drazenovic played well all night, often producing scoring chances and converting one in the first period.
Curtis McElhinney has been playing well for the Falcons. Playing all four games, McElhinney has posted a 1.76 goals against average, picking up a shutout along the way. UMass Amherst graduate and backup goalie PaulDainton is expected to play one game this weekend according to coach Brad Larsen.